Walking, or spider, excavators are construction industry machines that are employed in terrain that is relatively inaccessible such as forests, steep mountainsides and ski slopes.

The walking excavator was invented in 1966 by the 69-year-old Swiss manufacturer, Ernst Menzi, who marketed the idea via his company Menzi Muck. The name “Muck” was adopted as a reference to the German fairy tale character “Muck, the man who’s small, but can do it all.” Initially, the machines were of very simple design and offered few comforts, as confirmed by an article in the “ Neue Zürcher Zeitung” from the end of the 1960s, which described the excavator as, “A digger with spindly legs and the charm of a badly-lit telephone box.”

Today, the Menzi Muck walking excavator owes its international success to a wealth of innovative details. These include its sophisticated high-tech chassis and the patented digger boom, as well as the various hydraulic cylinders that enable the all-rounder to match its wheels and supports to any terrain. This is the reason why in some countries, the walking excavator is known as a spider excavator.

In tracked excavators, the tipping edge is fixed, however in the case of the Menzi Muck this can be altered in line with the working operation by means of the adjustable wheel and claw supports. It is thus possible that lifting and breakout can be achieved, which are unobtainable with a standard tracked excavator. In fact, a 9.5t Menzi Muck offers the same output as a 20 t tracked excavator.

Owing to the extremely high vibration levels and the special installation position, Banner Running Bull AGM batteries are being used increasingly to start the engine of the Menzi Muck and supply its electrical system.

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The RV Wiking Linz women's eight is powered by Banner!

Gliding over water.

Rowing? Isn't that boring? And doesn't it merely make one's arms tired? Naturally, such questions are a matter of opinion. However, in fact it is not easy to find another sport that gently stretches every muscle group to such a degree and can be enjoyed by anyone from the age of eight to eighty.

Reasons enough for the Banner buffalo to add its beef to the women's racing eight of RV Wiking Linz.

Prior to the summer break, this crew contested three of five races in Frankfurt, Münster and Hamburg, and did extremely well in what were tough competitions.

Accordingly, the Banner buffalo would like to wish the eight further sporting success and always sufficient water under its keel.

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Iceland´s Strongest Man Contest 2016.

Most Impressive Strongest Man Competition.

These competitors pick up metal chests weighing 300kg like others lift a shopping bag, raise smooth, stone balls with half the weight of a Mercedes Smart into the air and lug complete car bodies around. We are talking about the Strongest Man Contests.

The English term strong man now applies to power athletes, who demonstrate their physical prowess in a range of differing competitive disciplines. These each make individual demands and therefore this sport requires maximum strength, endurance and fitness.

Cleverly directed show numbers such as rolling up frying pans and tearing telephone directories apart, etc. were and are public attractions.

Accordingly, the Icelandic Strongest Man Contest is characterised by very special and extremely tough disciplines such as the Banner battery lift. The contestants have to stand with outstretched arms for as long as possible, while being loaded with Banner batteries.

The victor in Iceland, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, who is nicknamed “The Mountain”, was crowned the island’s strongest man for the fifth time and this year broke a 1,000-year-old Viking record by lifting a ship’s mast weighting 650kg. Hard to believe!

In view of this performance (and the tattoos) the Banner Buffalo is mightily impressed and wishes to congratulate all the brave contestants and the victor.

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BannAIR BULLPOWER reaches for the sky!

Flying model aircraft is fascinating and not just technology for children!

Many pilots start young in the truest sense of the word and it is no secret that they frequently begin by flying model aircraft. This might even turn out to be true in the case of Oliver Fenz, a nine-year-old from Stegersbach/Burgenland (A).

His hobbies are flying model aircraft and go-karting, and he has been piloting model planes since he was five.

Along with his father, Robert Fenz, Oliver is an active member of the Stremtal Model Flying Club, which has a superb landing strip for model aircraft and allows the Fenz's to enjoy their shared hobby together.

After many hours of training, Oliver is now able to not only fly standard model planes, but also e-impeller jets and helicopters using Banner BULL POWER!

Naturally enough, he wants a career as a jet pilot and the Banner buffalo would like to wish him every success with the fulfilment of his dream, as well as plenty of flying fun in the years to come.

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Banner is an partner in the Environmental Technology Cluster!

The Environmental Technology Cluster combines the potential and competences of its more than 2,000 partner companies, thereby increasing both their innovative strengths and international competitiveness.

The primary aim of the cluster to create an improved framework within the environmental technology branch. This is important as companies bear a major responsibility to both people and the natural world.

Accordingly, for many years Banner has undertaken an obligation to ensure optimum safety, health and environmental protection. Strict directives, which are continually updated in line with new know-how, offer strong safeguards for employees, neighbours, customers, users and the environment.

This is the initial conclusion of the tests carried out by the “Steiner riders”, the son and daughter of our colleague Silvio Steiner, the motorcycle battery and battery accessories product manager.

“Great fun, top speeds and no noise, not to mention really excellent output, service life and charging times.

The Banner buffalo wishes the Steiner kids more great, crash-free riding and plenty of power.

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Banner nominated for the Daimler Supplier Award.

During the nomination process for its 2015 Supplier Awards, the Daimler AG selected Banner as one of its top three in the “Quality” Category

Banner was nominated for an award in the “Quality” Category as one of only three suppliers worldwide and the company’s Technical CEO, Thomas Bawart, was present at the presentation ceremony in Stuttgart, which he described as: “A very special honour”. He went on to say that: “This nomination is confirmation of our adopted strategy for success and underlines the importance of partnerships with innovative companies such as Daimler.”